Québec, Quebec, April 10, 2007 The Honourable
Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of
Canada Economic Development, today announced that
Simard Suspensions Inc. has been awarded $208,000 in repayable funding
to help improve its productivity and implement an export development plan.
The largest manufacturing firm in the Charlevoix-Ouest Regional County
Municipality (RCM), Simard Suspensions Inc. specializes in the design,
manufacture and installation of suspension systems for heavy vehicles. These
systems allow for better load distribution, thereby making it possible to
increase a vehicle's legal load capacity by 10% to 30%. The firm, which also
specializes in the conversion of traditional trucks, employs 110 people and
plans to invest some $520,000 in this project.
"The financial assistance we are granting today is entirely in line with the
determination of Canada's new government to facilitate the growth of small and
medium-sized businesses in Quebec and help them become more internationally
competitive. Our support will enable Simard Suspensions Inc. to grab
hold of new business opportunities. This Baie-Saint-Paul enterprise occupies a
unique position in the market and the Charlevoix area as a whole could benefit
considerably from its expansion. It is important for us to support a project
that, like this one, promises to lead to new job creation and the consolidation
of jobs already in place," stated Minister Blackburn.
"With the situation not at its best right now for Canadian exporters, this
support from the federal government comes at a very welcome time. While our company
enjoys a solid position on the Canadian market, we are not immune to foreign
competition. We are convinced that by improving the quality of our products
and the efficiency of our working methods, we will be able to retain our
position as industry leaders in North America. This assistance from Canada Economic Development
will also enable us to step up our efforts to
break into new markets in the United States and elsewhere in the world," added
Simard Suspensions General Manager David Tremblay.
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Sources:
Michel RochonCommunicationsCanada Economic DevelopmentTel.:
418-648-4679 or 1-800-463-5204E-mail: michel.rochon@dec-ced.gc.ca
Roxane MarchandPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Jean-Pierre
BlackburnCanada Economic Development Tel.: 819-953-5646Cell.:
613-816-5094E-mail: roxane.marchand@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
